Byline: Nonjabuliso Nhlambo
12 June 2024
A police officer arrested by the Independent Police Investigative Directorate (IPID), for killing three family members was sentenced to three life terms after he pleaded guilty to three counts of murder.
Constable Sizwe Cedrick Khoza (38), was sentenced for killing his wife, her sister and her brother in Sand River Trust, Hazyview, on 30 April 2023.
Evidence before the court is that Khoza and his wife, Nomthandazo Suzan Mnisi (31) had marital problems and he called a meeting, with the wife’s family to assist them.
During the meeting, an argument ensued where Suzan’s brother called Khoza a small boy and this angered him.
Khoza then went to his bedroom, took out his service firearm and went to the sitting room to show them what a small boy is capable of.
He fatally shot his wife, her sister Colisile Mnisi (32), a nurse at Matikwane Hospital and her brother, Dennis Mkhatshwa (42).
The incident was reported to IPID and Khoza was subsequently arrested.
He was later released on bail and the case was postponed for further investigations.
The docket was handed to the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions in Mpumalanga after investigations, and the prosecutors charged Khoza with three counts of murder.
He pleaded guilty on 03 June 2024, to three counts of murder in the High Court of South Africa: Mpumalanga Division, and the case was postponed for pre-sentence reports.
He was then sentenced to life imprisonment for each count of murder.
Khoza, who was stationed at Masoyi Police Station, was further declared unfit to possess a firearm.
The NPA and IPID commend the good work done by the investigator and the prosecutor in ensuring that Khoza is punished for his evil actions.
